Philadelphia’s Jaron “Boots” Ennis Ready to Step-Up the Competition!

Over the years this writer has watched Philadelphia trainer Derrick “Bozy” Ennis in his “Bozy’s Dungeon” training his two oldest sons and others. One gym was over a mosque in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. The current gym is over the Harrowgate Gym at 1920 E. Venango Street in the Kensington section of Philadelphia that Charlie Sgrillo (President of the Ring 1 VBA) and Timmy Sinese train the young boxers.

The oldest son Derek “Pooh” Ennis, 24-5-1 (13), won the PA State title defeating southpaw Troy Browning, then 20-2-1, on September 26, 2008. Browning was born in Philadelphia but lived in Willingsboro, NJ, at the time. Ennis put him in retirement.

In October 16, 2009, Ennis won the vacant USBA title defeating Nigerian Eromoselee “Bad Boy” Albert, 22-3-1, at the legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia. I was in attendance and what a great fight that was. In July 30, 2010 in a heated rivalry Ennis defeated Philadelphia’s Gabriel “King” Rosado, 14-4, where the boxer puncher Rosado tried out boxing Ennis whose boxing skills happen to be better yet he did more punching than usual. At age 33 he retired after losing to current IBF World Super Middleweight champion Caleb Truax.

His younger brother Super Middleweight Farah Ennis, 22-2 (12), on November 19, 2010, won the vacant NABF Super Middleweight title stopping Texan Victor Lares, 15-4, at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. Lares went into retirement after this fight. He defeated Anthony “Tyger” Hanshaw, 23-2, in June of 2013. In the next fight which would be his next to last fight Ennis had in his career he lost to now former WBC Super Middleweight and current WBA World Light Heavyweight champion Sweden’s Badou Jack who is scheduled to fight a unification bout in May with WBC champion Adonis Stevenson.

Finally, we get to the youngest of the three Ennis brothers, Jaron “Boots” Ennis the 2016 Olympic alternate who is but 20 years old. He lost in the Trials to Antuanne Russell, currently 4-0 as a pro having his fifth fight this week-end. They had split in their two previous fights. “The first two fights were fair decisions but the one in the Olympic Trials was a bad one,” said “Bozy” Ennis. I’m sure in the future a fourth bout will be held in a sold out Arena.

In 24 months the youngest of the Ennis brothers has compiled a 19-0 record with 17 by stoppage. His manager is Cameron Dunkin who had managed Philadelphia’s Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson which was basically the reason the “Bozy” chose him. The other part of the team and the man responsible for promoting about five of his fights is Chris Middendorf with Victory Boxing Promotions who promoted the youngest Ennis in his professional debut on April 30, 2016, at St. George, Utah. That was just one of his 115 promotions dating back to 2002.

For the youngest of the Ennis brothers it hasn’t been easy due to his reputation in the amateurs and now in the pro ranks in obtaining him fights let alone with quality opponents. After his most recent victory April 14, 2008, in Norfolk, VA, stopping Samuel Amoako, 23-17, in the first round he said “now I will be stepping up the competition”.

The elder Ennis “Bozy”, also trains world welterweight contender 32 year old “The New” Ray Robinson, 24-3, from Philadelphia who the younger Ennis spars with. The other Philadelphia welterweight is 30 year old Danny “Swift” Garcia, 34-1, who a year ago lost his WBC title to 29 year old WBA champion Keith Thurman who is 28-0.

As you can see at 20 “Boots” Ennis having 19 fights already is well on the way to be stepping in with “the big boys” and on June 1st Rising Star Promotions will have Ennis in the Main Event hopefully fighting for the vacant USBA welterweight title or another title at the Showboat in Atlantic City.

Only problem per Middendorf is “we proposed offers to the other contenders and haven’t gotten any response.” Ennis is No. 1 in the USBA rankings per him and seems to be the most feared boxer in the division already at such a young age. After his June 1st fight look for Jaron “Boots” Ennis to enter the world rankings and the only way is up!